Updated – 9th December 2021
On 8th December, the Government announced a move to Plan B of its Covid-19 arrangements for England. This was in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant and the possible pressures on the NHS arising from an increase in the Covid infection rate. Hexagon continues to be fully committed to ensuring its residents live in safe homes during the current Covid-19 pandemic and whilst we continue to carry out emergency, urgent, routine repairs, health and safety inspections and remedial works, and all planned improvement works, we aim to do so as safely as possible in line with the government’s latest guidance.
Repairs and maintenance
Hexagon’s contractors are carrying out all emergency, urgent and routine repairs that residents report to us.
Improvement Works
Our Stock Improvement Team are contacting residents to agree timetables to survey and carry out improvement works such as replacement of kitchens/bathrooms and roofs, energy efficiency improvements and painting of internal and/or external communal areas.
Safety-related work
Hexagon is still delivering all property safety-related works, which include gas safety checks, water hygiene checks, electrical safety checks and fire safety remedial works.
How will Hexagon and its Contractors manage these works?
Residents’ safety is paramount and so the following approach is being taken by Hexagon and its contractors:
- In advance of attending your home, a resident will be contacted and asked if they have Covid-19/coronavirus or have symptoms of Covid-19 or are self-isolating or are clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable and discuss with them the work that needs to be undertaken in their home. If none of these situations applies to a resident, work will be undertaken in line with the government’s latest guidance.
NOTE: No improvement works or routine repairs will be carried out in a resident’s home if they or anyone in their household has Covid-19/coronavirus or has symptoms of Covid-19 or are self-isolating. Therefore, only emergency and urgent repairs would be carried out in a resident’s home, in line with the government’s latest guidance, if a resident or any member of their household is self-isolating or has Covid-19/coronavirus or has symptoms of Covid-19, including the Omicron variant.
Gas safety checks, improvement works, routine repairs and other property-safety works will be carried out in a resident’s home once their or any member of their household’s self-isolation ends or they do not show any signs of Covid-19 or have Covid-19/coronavirus. If a resident or anyone in their household is clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable, contractors will make arrangements to attend the property in line with the government’s latest guidance.
However, all works in external and internal communal areas will continue to be carried out in line with the government’s latest guidance.
- Where work is to go ahead in a resident’s home, before entering a resident’s home an operative/surveyor will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which include a face covering and disposal gloves, as per the government’s latest guidance. The operative/surveyor will also maintain social distancing from the moment they knock on the front door and whilst they are carrying out the work up until they leave a resident’s home. If there is not enough space in a resident’s home to maintain social distancing, the resident(s) and other members of the household will be asked to stay in a separate room whilst the work is being carried out. Additionally, Hexagon and its contractors will ensure that there are limited number of operatives/surveyors in confined spaces to maintain social distancing.
- Operatives/surveyors will sanitise their hands before and after leaving the property. Operatives/surveyors will also clean/sanitise all the surfaces and tools that they will have touched in a resident’s home before they leave. Residents will be advised to keep internal doors, which lead into the area(s) that operatives will be working in, open so that operatives/surveyors do not touch door handles.
- Hexagon and its contractors will not allow any of its operatives/surveyors who have Covid-19 and/or show any signs of Covid-19/coronavirus/Omicron variant to report for work.
- Hexagon’s staff or its contractors may leave a resident’s home if they feel that they are not safe and the situation could not be remedied during the visit, in line with the relevant latest government guidance.
- Hexagon’s contractors’ operatives will be tested for Covid-19 using rapid lateral flow tests on a weekly basis.
- Hexagon and its contractors will always continue to follow all measures in the latest detailed guidance from the government.
What can residents do?
We appreciate that these are extremely worrying times for our residents, but we would like to reassure residents that Hexagon and its contractors will always prioritise residents’, residents’ household members’ and their staff members’ safety. Hexagon’s staff and contractors’ operatives will ensure that they always adhere to the government’s latest guidance.
Hexagon would request residents to:
- In advance of Hexagon’s staff or its contractors visiting their homes, advise us if they are clinically vulnerable, clinically extremely vulnerable, shielding, self-isolating or have Covid-19 symptoms
- Wear face coverings whilst the inspection or work is taking place
- Keep a distance of two metres away from Hexagon’s staff or its contractors as much as possible.
- Where applicable, and in line with the relevant government’s guidance, stay in a separate room whilst work is being carried out in their homes.
- Avoid any physical contact with Hexagon’s staff or its contractors, and also avoid touching or sharing items such as pens or tools with them.
- Open windows in the area of work or inspection to ventilate the area
- Open internal doors so that our staff and contractors do not touch the door handles
Residents’ cooperation in adhering to the above-mentioned request would be greatly appreciated as the works that will need to be carried out will ensure that residents continue to live in warm, decent and safe homes.
If residents have any questions, they can contact our Customer Services Centre on 0208 778 6699 or customer_desk@hexagon.org.uk.
Where is the government’s latest guidance/advice?
The government’s latest guidance/advice, which Hexagon and all its contractors are following can be accessed via the following links:
- ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work#outdoors-4-2
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england
Housing Services
We are aiming to maintain a normal level of service within housing management, in particular we are continuing to let properties and carry out health and safety inspections. If you have any concerns regarding ASB or domestic abuse, please contact us. If you have any concerns regarding paying your rent, again please contact us as we will be able to assist.
